卢梭《论人类不平等的起源》(英文版)资料下载.pdf

卢梭《论人类不平等的起源》(英文版)资料下载.pdf

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OntheInequalityamongMankind&@#@ProfessionofFaithofaSavoyardVicarJEANJACQUESROUSSEAUwasbornatGeneva,June28,1712,thesonofawatchmakerofFrenchorigin.Hiseducationwasirregular,andthoughhetriedmanyprofessionsincludingengraving,music,andteachinghefounditdifficulttosupporthimselfinanyofthem.ThediscoveryofhistalentasawritercamewiththewinningofaprizeofferedbytheAcademyofDijonforadiscourseonthequestion,“Whethertheprogressofthesciencesandoflettershastendedtocorruptortoelevatemorals.”Hearguedsobrilliantlythatthetendencyofcivilizationwasdegradingthathebecameatoncefamous.Thediscoursehereprintedonthecausesofinequalityamongmenwaswritteninasimilarcompetition.1Henowconcentratedhispowersuponliterature,producingtwonovels,“LaNouvelleHloise,”theforerunnerandparentofendlesssentimentalandpicturesquefictions;@#@and“mile,oulEducation,”aworkwhichhashadenormousinfluenceonthetheoryandpractiseofpedagogydowntooutowntimeandinwhichtheSavoyardVicarappears,whoisusedasthemouthpieceforRousseausownreligiousideas.“LeContratSocial”（1762）elaboratedthedoctrineofthediscourseoninequality.Bothhistoricallyandphilosophicallyitisunsound;@#@butitwasthechiefliterarysourceoftheenthusiasmforliberty,fraternity,andequality,whichinspiredtheleadersoftheFrenchRevolution,anditseffectspassedfarbeyondFrance.2Hismostfamouswork,the“Confessions,”waspublishedafterhisdeath.Thisbookisamineofinformationastohislife,butitisfarfromtrustworthy;@#@andthepictureitgivesoftheauthorspersonalityandconduct,thoughpaintedinsuchawayastomakeitabsorbinglyinteresting,isoftenunpleasinginthehighestdegree.Butitisoneofthegreatautobiographiesoftheworld.3DuringRousseauslateryearshewasthevictimofthedelusionofpersecution;@#@andalthoughhewasprotectedbyasuccessionofgoodfriends,hecametodistrustandquarrelwitheachinturn.HediedatErmenonville,nearParis,July2,1778,themostwidelyinfluentialFrenchwriterofhisage.4TheSavoyardVicarandhis“ProfessionofFaith”areintroducedinto“mile”not,accordingtotheauthor,becausehewishestoexhibithisprinciplesasthosewhichshouldbetaught,buttogiveanexampleofthewayinwhichreligiousmattersshouldbediscussedwiththeyoung.Nevertheless,itisuniversallyrecognizedthattheseopinionsareRousseausown,andrepresentinshortformhischaracteristicattitudetowardreligiousbelief.TheVicarhimselfisbelievedtocombinethetraitsoftwoSavoyardpriestswhomRousseauknewinhisyouth.ThemoreimportantwastheAbbGaime,whomhehadknownatTurin;@#@theother,theAbbGtier,whohadtaughthimatAnnecy.第1页共42页http:

@#@/ProposedbytheAcademyofDijonWhatistheOriginoftheInequalityAmongMankind;@#@andwhethersuchInequalityisauthorizedbytheLawofNature?

@#@TISofmanIamtospeak;@#@andtheveryquestion,inanswertowhichIamtospeakofhim,sufficientlyinformsmethatIamgoingtospeaktomen;@#@fortothosealone,whoarenotafraidofhonouringtruth,itbelongstoproposediscussionsofthiskind.Ishallthereforemaintainwithconfidencethecauseofmankindbeforethesages,whoinvitemetostandupinitsdefence;@#@andIshallthinkmyselfhappy,ifIcanbutbehaveinamannernotunworthyofmysubjectandofmyjudges.1Iconceivetwospeciesofinequalityamongmen;@#@onewhichIcallnatural,orphysicalinequality,becauseitisestablishedbynature,andconsistsinthedifferenceofage,health,bodilystrength,andthequalitiesofthemind,orofthesoul;@#@theotherwhichmaybetermedmoral,orpoliticalinequality,becauseitdependsonakindofconvention,andisestablished,oratleastauthorized,bythecommonconsentofmankind.Thisspeciesofinequalityconsistsinthedifferentprivileges,whichsomemenenjoy,totheprejudiceofothers,suchasthatofbeingricher,morehonoured,morepowerful,andeventhatofexactingobediencefromthem.2Itwereabsurdtoask,whatisthecauseofnaturalinequality,seeingthebaredefinitionofnaturalinequalityanswersthequestion:

@#@itwouldbemoreabsurdstilltoenquire,iftheremightnotbesomeessentialconnectionbetweenthetwospeciesofinequality,asitwouldbeasking,inotherwords,ifthosewhocommandarenecessarilybettermenthanthosewhoobey;@#@andifstrengthofbodyorofmind,wisdomorvirtuearealwaystobefoundinindividuals,inthesameproportionwithpower,orriches:

@#@aquestion,fitperhapstobediscussedbyslavesinthehearingoftheirmasters,butunbecomingfreeandreasonablebeingsinquestoftruth.3Whatthereforeispreciselythesubjectofthisdiscourse?

@#@Itistopointout,intheprogressofthings,thatmoment,when,righttakingplaceofviolence,naturalbecamesubjecttolaw;@#@todisplaythatchainofsurprisingevents,inconsequenceofwhichthestrongsubmittedtoservetheweak